Apparatus for facilitating walking.



w. ANDERSON-v. APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING WALKING. APPLICATION nungujas,191g.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

INVENTOR ML/fl/V Mame/PS0 Arromvsrs 1n: uomili PEI-IRS cod v/Asmuwom nc.

WILLIAM ANDERSON, OF HOLLY SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI.

APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING WALKING.

Application filed March 29, 1910.

Specification of Letters Patentv Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

Serial No. 552,148.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. ANDER- son, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Holly Springs, in the county of Marshall andState of Mississippi, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus forFacilitating Walking, of which the following is a specification.

Iy invention is an improvement in that class of leg attachments whichare adapted to facilitate walking or jumping.

The invention is embodied in appliances or devices adapted to be securedto the thigh and foot of the wearer, and an intermediate connectingportion formed of springs, which are alternately flexed and extended inthe act of walking.

Thus, the essential principle or distinguishing feature of my inventionis the adaptation of the springs to serve as levers. The details ofconstruction, arrangement, and operation of the apparatus are ashereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich Figure l is a side view of one form of the apparatus as applied tothe leg of a wearer. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same showlng theposition the spring assumes when the leg is flexed. Fi 3 is another sideview showing a modification. Fig. 4 illustrates the operation of thesame. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 show other modifications and the operation ofthe same, as will be hereinafter described. Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof another modification. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are views illustrating theoperation of the form shown in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1, the numeral 1 indicates a springrod which is attached to afoot-piece 2 secured to the front portion of the shoe sole, the upperend of the same passing through keepers on a leg-band 3 and then forminga loop 4 which extends around the rear side of the thigh of the wearer.Thus, there are two side rods 1 having a connecting loop 4-, the legbeing adapted to work freely between the parallel portions 1.

In Fig. 2, the le of the wearer is shown bent forward and t e springs 1are flexed or bent rearwardly to the same degree, thus actingpractically as spring levers.

In Fig. 3, the sprin s are formed in two parts, to wit, upper an lowerportions 5 and 6, the same being jointed together at 7 opposite theknee-'oint of the wearer. Since when the foot 1s raised, the knee isflexed, it

is apparent the joint 7 permits this movement without resistance. Theupper part 6 passes through keepers on the leg-band 8 and then aroundthe rear side of the thigh of the wearer, as in the form shown in Figs.1 and 2. In Fig. l, the operation of this form of the device isillustrated, the leg of the wearer being shown bent forward and thesprings 5 and 6 flexed to the rear or in the opposite direction.

In Fig. 5, I again employ two springs 9 and 10, which are similar to theform shown in Fig. 3 save that both are curved slightly to the rear. Thejoint 11 in this case is located somewhat lower than the joint shown inFigs. 3 and 4-, or a little below the kneejoint of the wearer.

In Fig. 6, the lower spring 12 is the same as in Figs. 3 and 5, but theupper spring 12 has a forward bend, which serves to increase theelasticity of the attachment. In view of the increased elasticity, thisis my preferred form of the invention.

In Fig. 7 the springs 13 and 14 are the same as in F ig. 6, but thelower spring 13 is attached to the toe of the wearers shoe instead ofbeing attached at a point opposite the ball of the foot.

In Fig. 8, the upper spring 15 is the same as in Figs. 6 and 7, but thelower attachment 16 may be composed of practically rigid rods instead ofsprings,

In Fig. 9, I show another modification in which lower springs 17 andupper curved springs 18, similar to those illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7,are em loyed, but instead of the upper portions 0 the lower spring 17terminating at the joint 19, whereby they are attached to the upperspring 18, they form a loop 20 which passes around the rear side of thewearers thigh and serves to hold the joints duly spaced apart.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate the position this form of the deviceassumes when in use,

that is to say, when the leg of the wearer is flexed more or less as inwalking and running. The loop 20 may be made integral with the springs17, or as a separate piece.

Thus all the forms of my invention include a lever sprin which rendersthe de' vice particularly e cient in operation. In other Words, Iprovide a spring support adapted to relieve, in part, the muscles of theleg of the weight of the body when walkin and incidently the reaction ofthe spring I I l alds 1n propulsion.

I propose to employ any suitable form of leg-band which may be adaptedfor the purpose.

W'hat I claim is 1. A leg attachment to facilitate walking, comprisingparts adapted to be secured to the thigh and foot of" the wearer, and anintermediate connection including a spring lever, substantially asdescribed.

2. The improved apparatus for the purpose specified, comprising devicesadapted to e secured to the thigh andv foot of the wearer, and anintermediate connection including a spring formed of rods arranged oneach side of the leg, substantially as described.

3. The improved apparatus for the pur pose specified, comprising athigh-band and an attachment for the shoe of the wearer, and anintermediate connection between the two which includes spring rodsarranged on each side of the leg and adapted to be flexed when Jressureis applied in the manner describe 4:. The improved apparatus for thepurpose specified, comprising a leg-band and an attachment for the shoeof the wearer, and intermediate connections comprising rods connectedwiththe shoe and an upper spring whose lower port-ion is curved betweenits oint of attachment to the leg-band and its ointed connection withthe rods, substantially as described.

5. The improved apparatus for the purpose specified, comprising athigh-band, and an attachment for the shoe of the wearer, andintermediate connections consisting of two springs which are jointedtogether at a point adjacent to the knee of the wearer, substantially asdescribed.

6. The im roved apparatus for the purpose specified comprising athigh-band and an attachment for the shoe of the wearer, andintermediate connections comprising two springs, one connected with theshoe and the other with the leg-band and jointed together, the upperspring being curved from its point of attachment to the thigh-band toits jointed connection with the lower spring, substantially asdescribed.

7. In an improved apparatus for the purpose specified, a leg-band and ashoe attachment, and intermediate spring connections formed of springrods attached to the shoe, and an upper spring secured to the leg-bandand curved forwardly and rearwardly, a loop 20 connecting the upper endsof the lower spring, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for the purpose specified, spring rods adapted forattachment at one end to a shoe-sole and constructed at the other endfor connection with a legband attachment, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for the purpose specified, the combination with aleg-band of a spring secured thereto and adapted for con nection withother springs attached to a shoe-sole, substantially as described.

WVILLIAM' W. ANDERSON.

Witnesses W. H. J ONES, E. B. BOOKER.

